Mondrian with a Twist

These new takes on the paintings of Piet Mondrian were made by the amazing artists of PreK and Kindergarten. We began with a review of the three primary colors and how they can be used to create all the other colors on the color wheel. Students then cut out squares and rectangles in the primary colors and glued them onto a paper. During the next class, we learned about Mondrian and used cardboard and black paint to create lines all over the paper. I let students choose which lines to use in their artwork. We could use horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines. These lines could be parallel or intersect. This lesson results in a modern and simple artwork that incorporates lessons about primary colors, lines and shapes for young artists.

Primary Color Monsters Attack!!

PreK and kinder made these fun primary color monsters! We began by learning about shapes- students then practiced cutting large ovals, rectangles, and triangles. These shapes were made in the primary colors- called primary because they make up all the other colors. We read several books about monsters- Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli and Monsters Love Colors. Students looked at these monsters to get ideas for how to make their monsters- how to make the arms and legs, weird eyes and teeth, etc. We also extended this out to learning how to mix the primary colors to make green, purple and orange. A super fun lesson that helped teach the young ones all about color and shapes!

First Day of Art!

PreK and Kinder students created these works of art on their very first day of art! We began by reading the book Art Is by Bob Raczka and talking about all the fun things we do in art class. Next, students were free to create a work of art and draw whatever they wanted. During the second class, students used some precut squares to create a pattern around the border. We learned the three primary colors and added some finishing touches to the drawings. The results are a nicely framed commemorative art piece for the first day of art!

Primary Popsicles

One of my favorite things to teach PreKinder and Kindergarten students is color mixing. Younger students are AMAZED by mixing primary colors and creating new secondary colors. This lesson incorporated color mixing along with learning the primary and secondary colors.

On the first day, I read the story Mouse Paint by Ellen Walsh so students could see how mixing primary colors can create all three secondary colors. We then divided a paper into three sections and mixed two primary colors in each to create green, orange and violet. During the next class, we also divided a paper into three sections and then created different line patterns with secondary colors in the background. The final class is when students cut out the popsicles and glued them onto the patterns with a popsicle stick. Students really loved this project because they love mixing and creating new colors! 

Lichtenstein Style Self-Portraits

Students in grades 4-6 learned about American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein and created these dynamic self-portraits in a similar style. We began by drawing self-portraits in pencil as realistically as possible. Students then outlined the portrait in sharpie and added an action word and some lines or shapes around the word for emphasis. Next, students drew in several shapes and painted them in with the primary colors. We used primary colors and benday dots to stay in theme with the old school vintage style of early comic strips. This is a great project to teach about pop art while incorporating some elements that can capture the artist's personality.

First Day of Art Class

PreK and Kinder students created these works of art on their very first day of art! We began by reading the book Art Is by Bob Raczka and talking about all the fun things we do in art class. Next, students were free to create a work of art and draw whatever they wanted. During the second class, students used some precut squares to create a pattern around the border. We learned the three primary colors and added some finishing touches to the drawings. The results are a nicely framed commemorative art piece for the first day of art!

Primary Color Monsters

PreK and kinder made these fun primary color monsters! We began by learning about shapes- students then practiced cutting large ovals, rectangles, and triangles. These shapes were made in the primary colors- called primary because they make up all the other colors. We read several books about monsters- Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli and Monsters Love Colors. Students looked at these monsters to get ideas for how to make their monsters- how to make the arms and legs, weird eyes and teeth, etc. We also extended this out to learning how to mix the primary colors to make green, purple and orange. A super fun lesson that helped teach the young ones all about color and shapes!

Mondrian Minions

Students in grades PreK and Kinder created these adorable Minions in the style of Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. Mondrian was famous for his grid paintings that utilized horizontal and vertical black lines and the three primary colors (red, yellow and blue). 

We began by drawing the Minions step by step. I used simple lines and shapes, while showing different details to use to make the different characters. We then outlined them in black crayon and added a simple border with a ruler. Students then learned the three primary colors and used these to paint the Minion and border. Children love this project because they love to draw characters from movies, plus it's a great way to introduce the primary colors to young artists!

Primary Color Self-Portraits

Students in grades PreK and Kinder created these self-portraits. We began by making a tissue paper collage with the three primary colors- red, yellow and blue. The squares of tissue paper were placed onto the white paper with a slight overlap so students could see how the secondary colors are made. During the next class, students used simple cut out shapes to create a self-portrait. We drew the facial features on and students could also add a drawing or design to their shirts. On the final class, we added hands and shoes and also glued yarn on for hair. The students could also add some star or swirl stamps in blue to the backgrounds. This is a great project to directly show students how to mix colors as well as teaching the vocabulary for a self-portrait.